Currently, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) is one of the best in the world when it comes to Priority Pass lounges. The airport has one of the largest selections of Priority Pass lounges you’ll find at any airport, and they’re all relatively high quality. Well, unfortunately this will be changing shortly, for a pretty questionable reason, as flagged by The MileLion.
In this post:
Bangkok Airport losing all airline Priority Pass lounges
As of April 1, 2025, we’re going to see the list of eligible Priority Pass lounges in Bangkok reduced significantly. Specifically, the following seven lounges will no longer be part of the Priority Pass network:
- The Air France-KLM Lounge (International Concourse F)
- The Bangkok Airways Boutique Lounge (Domestic Concourse A)
- The Blue Ribbon Club Lounge (Domestic Concourse A)
- The Blue Ribbon Club Lounge (International Concourse D)
- Oman Air Lounge (International Concourse E)
- Thai Royal Silk Lounge (Domestic Concourse A)
- Turkish Airlines Lounge (International Concourse E)
When all is said and done, this means the only remaining Priority Pass lounges at the airport will be those with Coral and Miracle branding. which are contract lounges that are open to Priority Pass, and available to passengers on select airlines.
Why are Bangkok lounges leaving Priority Pass?
It goes without saying that the circumstances surrounding this are unusual. Every once in a while you may see a lounge decide to leave Priority Pass, due to a strategy shift. However, to see so many lounges leave at once is something I’ve never see before.
Furthermore, it’s important to emphasize that many of these lounges probably rely on Priority Pass in order for the economics to work. Honestly, one wonders how lounges from carriers like Air France-KLM, Oman Air, and Turkish Airlines, will be sustainable with these changes.
So, what’s the logic for this? Rumor has it that the airport authority, Airports of Thailand (AOT), has a new rule that stipules that airline lounges can no longer participate in Priority Pass, and instead, can only accept passengers through their own programs (so elite status, class of service, alliance membership, etc.).
Let me emphasize that this is only a rumor, though logically, some kind of a rule stipulating that airlines can no longer participate in Priority Pass is the only logical explanation.
Why would the airport authority have such a rule? Does the airport have more of a stake in Coral or Miracle lounge locations? Does the airport get a cut on revenue for those lounges? Was the airport able to increase rent in exchange for that policy? I imagine it’s something along those lines.
Now I’m curious to see which of the other lounges end up closing in the coming months and years, because the economics just don’t make sense. I don’t know what the airport authority’s motive is here, but no matter how you slice it, this is a very customer unfriendly move.
Bottom line
As of April 2025, we’re going to see seven lounges at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport leave Priority Pass, including all those lounges run by airlines. It would appear that the airport authority has a new policy preventing airline lounges from participating in these programs, instead giving exclusivity to Coral and Miracle locations.
This is a shame, and I imagine we’re going to see at least one or two lounge closures as a result of this policy shift.
What do you make of this Bangkok Priority Pass situation?
I read that initially as "shakedown".
Then from the comments it seems I wasn't so far wrong!
The Oman lounge staff told me earlier this week that it was 100% airports of Thailand’s decision. apparently they (aot) want to drive traffic to the (second rate) miracle lounges owned by a local company. So much for a quiet and peaceful lounge in Suvarnabhumi……
Didn't Loyalty Lobby cover this a few weeks ago? I remember that it seemed suspicious that well connected Thai businesses got to stay as part of PP.
Also Visa Companion (Dragonpass) lists 16 BKK lounges, but they are all of Coral or Miracle variety
Probably AOT earns from concessionaires.
#MallWithRunways
Biden/HARRIS CORRUPTION to the core....
Are you high?
It has to do with licensing and concessions at AoT. There’s one major conglomerate who is putting a lot of pressure on AoT to change the current lease and concession rules/policies — or whatever you want to call that mess.
The miracle lounge is terrible. As basic as it comes. Oman air had the best lounge for priority pass. Thailand has all these monopolies and nationalistic policies. Well fck them. Last time I was there Oman Lounge was full. So I walked straight to the gate because Miracle is a dump. I will give them a 1star review on google over this. The thai owned lounges are shit so insread of improving they play politics...
The miracle lounge is terrible. As basic as it comes. Oman air had the best lounge for priority pass. Thailand has all these monopolies and nationalistic policies. Well fck them. Last time I was there Oman Lounge was full. So I walked straight to the gate because Miracle is a dump. I will give them a 1star review on google over this. The thai owned lounges are shit so insread of improving they play politics to take out the competition. Typical thai banana republic mentality
Everybody knows that AOT is the main reason and their (possible) shares in poorly performing coral but in particular miracle lounges. This was even informally confirmed to me during my recent visits in some of the affected lounges. The coral is particular often less populated and yes I must say the service is pretty average compared to those now affected. For me this is less of an annoyance as I have lounge access with Star...
Everybody knows that AOT is the main reason and their (possible) shares in poorly performing coral but in particular miracle lounges. This was even informally confirmed to me during my recent visits in some of the affected lounges. The coral is particular often less populated and yes I must say the service is pretty average compared to those now affected. For me this is less of an annoyance as I have lounge access with Star Alliance and flying blue. Still I dont like this "behave" of AOT. They should rather improve the pretty average airport operation. Suwarbhumi ranking is embarrassingly for a great service culture like the Thailand.
Someone probably didnt get paid off enough
What about DragonPass ? I have PP and DP.
Wow!
That's a huge story for many.
The AF lounge was my #1 monthly To go lounge l.
I find it few levels better then any other( food & seating & cleanness & calmness & size)
That is a huge blow.
Thai .gov keeps coming up with missable decisions . I have no clue where this came up from. But it's disastrous and smell of corruption .
Huge story indeed. But some content may have been swept under the rug.
At least Aaron get what he deserves ;)
Maybe credit cards next?
Not sure about TK as *A passengers will have access to the TG lounges, but there are a fair few Skyteam flights out of BKK and the CI lounge is tiny, so I would be surprised if there's any risk to the viability of the AF lounge.
TK probably opened with PP in mind like the rest in their system. Due to its size and other better *A alternative, it might get smaller.
AF suffers a similar issue, it's size. Ironically many ST actually send its passengers to Miracle. That should speak for the cost to airlines. So I'm not going to think they don't have risks.
WY is joining OW but not sure will it bring enough traffic.
I only see...
TK probably opened with PP in mind like the rest in their system. Due to its size and other better *A alternative, it might get smaller.
AF suffers a similar issue, it's size. Ironically many ST actually send its passengers to Miracle. That should speak for the cost to airlines. So I'm not going to think they don't have risks.
WY is joining OW but not sure will it bring enough traffic.
I only see PG international the one that would be at risk, having mostly leisure routes. They'll probably stay until their lease expires.
That being said besides PG, I think BKK seems to have enough traffic to maintain all those lounges, just might not be profit center for TK or WY anymore.
This is so typical of Thailand. The government creates a policy with some purported goal in mind yet the policy always has the opposite real world effect. They won’t reverse it in a couple of weeks either because Thais are famously stubborn. A couple of months maybe.
That's a very naive view.
The policy has the exact effects they want.
But like many other things, the product mistook itself as the customer.
It's not because of stubbornness. It's all conflict of interests.
Which of the listed lounges was considered the better ones? Which ones will we actually miss?
Oman air was really good, and I liked Air France as well. Bangkok airways exclusion makes no sense, as you only get access via Priority Pass if you're flying with them anyway.
PG was actually the FIRST victim of this policy years ago.
They have in fact accepted every member initially. Somewhere along the way they were forced to accept only their own customers, which makes no sense since every customer had access already without PP.
I have a feeling PG might close its international lounge once their lease runs out.
I've used both Oman and AF. Oman for the food and AF for the space that's usually not too busy. Might have to reconsider long transits at BKK or going to the airport early.
Or what to do between a 4PM checkout and a midnight departure. Ugh.
Wouldn’t have been so bad for me if ITA hadn’t left Sky Team as they gave me Skyteam Elite Plus. Now I only have Skyteam Elite when I go back and forth between Bangkok and Vietnam. Bad timing all around.
I wonder if Thailand are looking to go to the India model where there is seemingly one contract lounge brand and then the state carrier's lounge. Encalm is the name of the lounge brand at least in DEL International)...This approach too would be quite consumer unfriendly...as competition does seem to generally influence quality.
I hope not… that would be awful. The lounge at the new Terminal 2 in Bangalore is often crowded and chaotic… the service is poor.
That was always the issue with BLR even when it was only T1. Back then the 'new' airport looked new, but chaos ensure it's anything but new.
They seem to design them for the past not the future.
But to their credit, they are among the better airports in India.
Honestly, the central Miracle Lounge locations are great. The food and drink could improve a bit, but they're spacious and quiet and not crowded most of the day. By contrast, many airline lounges (especially Air France) tend to feel super cramped.
Will you feel the same when Coral is the only game in town, has a long queue for entry? I agree with your current assessment of the elounges as they exist today, but this change (if it lasts) will materially diminish the experience at the lounges that stay open.
Can't see Miracle exiting the BKK lounge sphere any time soon. They have a much larger footprint & longer history than Coral (which is only down in C Concourse for international flights).
What makes you say that Coral will be the only remaining non-airline lounge at Swampy?
Coral won't be the only operator. That BDen sometimes moan about things he couldn't grasp the concept and becomes delusional.
Anyway, Miracles do get crowded. But most of the time their central one is not.
Thailand leadership has a habit of making rash decisions without much thought, then reversing the decision once it inevitably doesn't work out as planned. I suspect this decision will be reversed in a few weeks once the carriers inform AoT that they will be reducing hours, service levels, and head count at their lounges in response to the changes.
You’re leaving out the corruption factor.
Bingo
"leadership has a habit of making rash decisions without much thought, then reversing the decision once it inevitably doesn't work out as planned.." hmmmm, sounds very familiar...
Not easy to make educated guess when there is no one responsible for education.
This will not adversely affect persons with airline status. This mainly affects all the freeloaders and poorly behaved Americans.
As Ben mentioned, it may affect some airline J passengers and status passengers if the economics no longer work out without Priority Pass revenue. Then these airline lounges will close and will instead direct passengers to the inferior Coral or Miracle lounges.
Ben noted that some airline-operated lounges might close because the economics don't make sense without Priority Pass revenue. So, it would adversely affect person's with airline status.
It will impact them when some of those lounges close, reduce services, or cutback hours.
They weren't accepting PP at this airport out of the goodness of their heart. They did it because it improved their economics.
"This will not adversely affect persons with airline status"
True
"This mainly affects all the freeloaders and poorly behaved Americans"
This is just nonsense and unworthy of the discussion.
America is like #10 on the number of tourists to Thailand. I'm sure there are more problems with the Russians, Chinese, and Indians.
@Mark Christopher
Amusingly, the rank of trouble maker tourists is in that order from least to most.
So non-status = freeloader and / or poorly behaved? My, my, my....
donna havaclue - You dont get in for free with a priority pass, you peasant.